The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-03-18
BE CONSISTENT AND JUsT.


! have been having a. discussion on
whether Ireland should have home rule or
not viii you be so kind as to try and settle
IL fer me by answering through your paper
# Ireland should Or not, and why?
The. Wortd.answered the query edi-
to-ielly. 1t doubted that Great Britain
would admit the ability of the editor to
settle" the vexed question, but said
that Ireland should have home rule,
local self government, for two reasons.
These are:
/ 1t is the right OF all connmuni les that
have the capacity for it. No force, or fraud,
or favoritism of bloody-minded or corrupt
kings hundreds OF years ago gives England
the right TO administer the local affairs of
the Irish people to day against their wish
2. It is expedient. The local governm ent
of Ireland from the royal castle has proved
and is proving disastrous failure. This
wretched policy has expatriated millions OF
the Irish people, and made the residue poor
and unhappy and rebellious. The govern
ment of an industrious, peaceful intelligent
people which have never received and does
not command their consent but is against
their lOng-continued protest is an usurpa-
ton. AS English rule in Ireland is unjust,
and is failure as well, it should give place
to home rule, which operates well in modi-
fed form in Scotland, and with even greater
success in the English colonies, where the
principle is more fully recognized.
Suppose some inquisitive school girl
of a thoughtful turn of mind should ask
the World whether an Americsl COM
munity should have home rule or not,
what would the editor reply? Suppose
she should make her query definite
and name Utah as the community,
what would be the editors answer?
Would he reply that sit is the tight of
an communities that have capacity for
it' to ENJOY home rule? We hope he
would. An American community
should be as dear to an. American editor
as an Irish community on the other
side of the Atlantic. An American
editor should be as ready TO champion
the cause of his fellow-citizens, and to
demand that they be accorded their
rights OF self-government, as he is to
paIIle lot INV Of h-..a liberty
and human Justice in behalf of distant
people. utah is peopled largely by
Observation-Disclosures bred and born;
the great majority of the people know,
Of their personal knowledge, of no other
land than that embraced within the
boundaries of the United States; they
love their country as patriots every
where do; they love and revere its
constitution, and are proud of its insti-
tutions. If the nation were threatened
they would cheerfully take up arms in
its defense; if their country should call
for their assistance in driving back a
foe or in redressing a wrong. the favor
able response would be hearty and the
service faithful.
But this American community does
not enjoy home rule; it has merely the
semblau oe of local self-government; it
is not allowed to make its own laws,
but must live under and obey statutes
enacted by a prejudiced and IN
friendly legislature; it is not per-
mitted to interpret and enforce the laws
for the government of the community,
but must accept and endure an inter
pretation and enforcement by men
RAPAOoatCN III lACl1 W k1S p6O-
pie; it is not permitted TO designate its
Governors, its judges, its marshals, its |
prosecutors, or even its o. election |
officers; it is even denied the privilege |
OF voting for petty officers except |
under humiliating and degrading con
ditions; it is daily subjected to insults |
and indignities equal in enorn6ty and |
oppression to any inflicted upon
he Irish by the English crown. |
IN many respects the rule i'm
posed upon the Utah community IS
harsher and worse generally than that
with which Great Britain afiicts brave
and iong-suffering little Ireland. If the |
rnfng powers in Utah could have their |
way, iEthe community were less patriotic
less devoted to the government and
their homes, the great majority of the |
people would be expatriated, and driven
forth TO find peace and home rule in
g foreign land.
II would be well if American editors.
when pleading so eIoquently and nobiy |
for home rule and local self government |
for the Irish, would also consider that |
n the heart of America, living under |
the Stars and Stripes, and sincerely pro-
testing allegiance to the best govern |
ment the world ever saw, there is nu-
merous community which is denied the !
great boon for which poor Ireland is so |
manfully struggling. If they would do
this, Il they would demand the reform.
and the justice az home which they are
asking. for the Irish, their appeals to
the British power would carry with
them greater weight, and their argu-
ments would receive more attention.
While q loyal American community
is treated worse than any British penal
colony, it comes with a bad grace for
Americans to ask the English to Be Just !,
# not generous TO the Irish. d